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all roads lead to labadi.
Labadi, a historic community in Accra, has suffered greatly from urban dispossession. Despite losing 80% of its land to expropriation, the community has continued to thrive and adapt, particularly in the now vacant International Trade Fair (ITF) site. Constructed in the 1960s, the ITF has played a complex role in the community’s history, from its initial purpose of showcasing Ghanaian nationhood to its later use by small business owners who appropriated the voids between pavilions. In 2021, the government demolished the remaining structures without notice, leaving the site abandoned.
This project aims to negotiate civic space and existing infrastructure by repurposing the ITF site into a sustainable and vibrant community hub. The design features a removal of the highway that cut Labadi off from its agricultural land, creating a strong relationship between the community and the land that once belonged to them. A new system of Housing and an agricultural band occupy a large portion of the site, restoring localized livelihoods and providing opportunities for sustainable growth while still utilizing existing building practices and technology.
The formalized architecture includes a market, a football field, and schools to address the struggling national and local education system. These spaces will encourage community engagement, providing a gathering place for people of all ages. By prioritizing sustainable practices, we aim to create a new model for urban development that recognizes the value of community and the importance of preserving history.
Project team: Samuel Bager & Blake Kem.